help!! Keeps cutting out???? F-pump or Distributor???

For about 6 months now ive had this problem where my Mk1 keeps cutting out, normally in high revs, but does happen when idle, first i thought it was fuel starv.. as i noticed the filter is low on petrol at times, and full at others... the timings spot on etc... i took it to a specialist they said it could be fuel pump.... though it cut out a couple of times and not started up again... i fiddled with the leads from coil to distrib to the sparks.... it started up straight away when i had it ??? so they swapped a distrib over as it happened to them as well when they where trying to find the fault... they thought they solved it and put my old one back on, till i got a new one at least, but it started back up again with the old one???? confusing... any ideas any one???

You dont say what engine it is.

If it is the smaller carbed engines, then a good chance it is the mechanical fuel pump, they are known to give up eventually and the symptoms you give sound right for it to be that.

I'm having asimiliar problem on my 6v conversion.

Car ran fine, its had new
Fuel lines front to back
Fuel pump
Pre pump filter
Fuel filter
Distrributor cap and arm and plugs

problem i have ususally happens when car is cold. just loses all poer, electrics are fine, there is no fuel
but as soon as i turn car off and on its ok. and sometimes when it cuts it come back.

I THINK its the Fuel Pump Relay!!!

anyone else had this problem?

The thing you need to do is determine if its a fuel- or ignition-related issue. ie get it into the fault condition then check for a spark, and check fuel pressure.

What model Mk1 is it?  I'm thinking it's a carbed job?

hey, its got a Pierburg 2E carb, and its a 1.4 polo engine,  haven't a clue why the last owner put that in, just got in from work and it started doing it again, i popped bonnet, and the pre filter had a trickle in it,normally does it in high Revs but has occasionally cut out on idle..

ignition wise… it does come back on when in gear, sometimes with the occasional back fire… funny when i drove by a cyclist, though when it does cut out Ive turned ignition on then off and it comes back on… its quite random as well

Ive got a fuel pump, just got to fit, hopefully its that… if not i guess ill try with the leads, coils quite new on it, Distributor cap, arm and plugs…etc

just a pain in the arse..

oh and Ive cleaned the carb out loads off times as i thought it was that.. no luck..

http://www.picturebay.net/img/guests/92237186235/DSCF7824.JPG

changed pump.... its not that, and with the backfiring, i think its the ignition system... ma paps seems to thinks.... at times when it does cut out on me, the ignition goes off and then some sort of grinding noise, starter motor?? or dizzy??? hmmmm... what a pain... any ideas... thought about getting a new ignition for my car as it does seem abit grindy. ma coils okay as i had it checked not long a go... help!

Really not sure about that grinding noise?????

I suspect you have a faulty a hall sender plug on your loom.  Changing the dizzy won't solve it if it is that.

Cheers

Rich

Ritio, how do i go about testing that, replace... etc...

tranner said

Ritio, how do i go about testing that, replace… etc…

Test the wiring while you wiggle the plug

ritio ill give it ago ... before/after work gah!! :

Tanner sorry to jump in but im having the same problem!!

any ideas guys?

like i mentioned its orignially a 8v gti, converted to a 16v gti mk2 1.8l

ive cleaned the pump and the pre pump filter.
theres plenty of fuel

when the car cuts out, all electrics are still on, and u can hear the pump priming, but if i turn the ley off and on it starts again.

so is it fuell pump relay or the dizzy? as it seems like an electrical issue.

Not the hall sender lol.... sometimes when it cuts out... that noise could be starter kicking in.... hmmmm.... might have to check my ignition... i think its defiantly electrical now, or something mechanical like the dizz, hate bluddy working, i just wont to sort it out lol

Figured it out!!

WAS RUST IN THE TANK!!
my pre filter was catching all the big metally rusty pieces but the gauze in the new pump was collecting all the left overs ie Sand like deposits and was blocking up under load.

so a new tank.

Hey all, i got it sorted, it was melted wire behind ignition, it kept on catching body work, causing it to earth..... so the engine cut out everytime it happened, got it replaced and rewired it away from the heat source so it doesnt happen again.... im a happy chappy now!!!! it runs spot on!!